Unitary spoke anx  tueab



Oct. 6, 1942. J. v. MARTIN 2,293,142

' UNITARY SPOKE TREAD TIRE Filed Feb. 17, 1940. 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 76 /m a/vrorr,

Oct. 6, 1942. 'J. v. MARTIN UHITARY SPOKE AND TREAD TIRE I 4 Sheets-Sheet '2'.

, Filed Feb. 17. 1,940

' j/s /6 fi mmgu I IUI Oct. 6, 1942- J. v. MARTIN UNITARY SPOKE AND TRE A'D TIRE Filed Feb. 17, 1940 4 Sheets-Shef 3 I //v van/7'07,

. Oct. 6,1942.' I J. 'v. MARTIN 2,298,142-

UNITARY 'SPOKEJND TREAD TIRE Filed Feb. 17, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 6, 1942 James v. Martin, Milton, N. r.

Application February 17, 1946. Serial No. 319,539

' In Great Britain Aprfl 25, 1939 9 Claims.

The primary object of my invention is to provide-a safer and easier riding type of tire than those heretofore disclosed and to provide improved methods of molding the same. 1

A. further object. of my invention is'to improve the constructions shown in my former Patents Nos. 2,016,095; 2,050,352 and my copending applications Serial No. 27,603, filed June 20, 1935; Serial No. 86,874, filed June 23', 1936, and Serial No. 236,103, filed Oct. 20, 1938.

Further objects of my invention are to simpliiy the tires of the resilient spoke type both as constructions having less parts and also as to making it possible to mold the tire tread and spokes in a single cure. A still furtherobject of my invention is to provide for greater molding pressure at certain critical places than would be needed for other places within the mold.

With the foregoing as the broad objectives of the invention further objects will be disclosed as we proceed with a detailed description of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in. side elevation of my invention as it would appear mounted upon the rim of a typical motorcycle steel spoke wheel.

Fig. 2 is a view in section of my invention taken along the line HII of Fig. 1.

spokes interposed between the said hub and the wheel rim 3. indicates a button headed wheel rim. pin, the ends of which form spoke attachments adapted to fit snugly within molded sockets in the inward lugs 5 of the rubber spokes it. t indicates the button head of the rim pin 4 which is shown as a portion of a piece of metal press fitted into a steel tube and having a pin 8 to additionally secure it in place. The said metal Fig. 3 is a view in section taken along the line Q III-III of Fig. 2.

Fig.4 is a view in section taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view in section of themfiated spacer tube it seen in the central lower portion of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view in section taken along the line VI-VI of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a view in section taken along the line VII-VII of Fig. 8.

Fig. 8 is a view in section taken along the line VIII-VIE of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a view looking down upon my new type of mold and indicating in dotted lines the apertures for molding a tire such as is shown in Fig. 1. a

Fig. 10 is a view of my new type mold in section taken along the lineX-X of Fig. 9 and to an enlarged scale.

Fig. 11 is a view in section taken along the line Xl-'-XI of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a view in section taken along the line XII-XII of Fig. 9. I

Fig. 13 is a'view, partly in section taken along the line XIII-.XHI of Fig. 10. i

Fig. 14 shows in section an alternative spoke loop form.

Proceeding now scription of the invention similar numerals will be employed to designate similar features throughout the several views: I indicates the typical hub of a motorcycle type with the still more detailed de-' wheelandltho nisthetopoithe has a turned neck 9 of smaller diameter than any other portion of the rim pin 4 as indicated, see Fig. 2. ll indicates an open space below the neck 9 of the pin 5 on the right hand side of Fig. 2 and in Fig. 6, while ll indicates an alternative space by means of dotted lines in Fig. 2 and more clearly in Fig. 14. by the V-shaped slots seen therein. iii indicates one of the rubber spokes under initial tension and I: shows one of the portions of the spoke thickened into a cross'rib of the spoke forlateral strength of the tire. is indicates the thin or web portion of a spoke, while M designates the curved bead at the edges of the spoke on'each side. l5 desisnates the tread hoop portion of my novel tire which contains two hickory wood filler hoops l8 cured to and within a complete rubber envelope ll and these are spaced apart during molding operation and later by an inflated inner tube built up of an envelope I80. (see Fig. 5) having reinforcing pieces ltb where the backing during molding would not be resistant to inflation as the wood filler i8 is and the tube I8 is provided with an air inflating valve lBc. As an alternative for holding the two filler hoops I6 apart/from each other during the molding operation I show a space It created in the tire tread portion during molding operations by a metal spacer (not shown), which can be varied in size to create the amount of space desired between the hoops 15. For example if a comparatively large degree of relative vertical movement is desired between the wood fillers It then the spacing metals which produce the molded apertures l9 (see Figs. 7 and 8) should be as large as practical. It will be noticed that the spacer which produces the opening I9 keeps the hoops l6 apart during molding while metal lugs 20 in the mold (see Figs. 10 and 12) center the hoops from the outer sides of the mold: This centering, or correct spacing of the wood fillers I6 is arranged so as to provide a skin of rubber over the wood at all places even at those places where the mold lugs 20' press inwardly. This is accomplished by wrapping cotton or other gum impregnated tape around the hoops at suitable intervals, see 2|, in Figs. 4, '7 and 8 and see the skin of resulting rubber at the base of the grooves 20' in' Fig. 2.

Now turning to the special mold 22, Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive, tor molding the elastic spoketires, flat plate mold and 22b the bottom thereof: 23 indicates similar, but oppositely placed molding plates to form the spokes ll of the tire, but notice the proportionate shorting of these spokes as represented by their molding plates 23: This difierence amounts to the initial tension desired in the spokes and can be regulated after the tire is molded by altering the diameter of the vehicle rim 3 to which the spokes are to beattached. 24 indicates the molding pin which produces the spaces and button headed sockets for the pin 4 seen in Figs. 2 and 3. 25

is an extra long guide pin for registering the upper half of the mold when it is lowered over the loaded lower half. 26 indicates conveniently placed overflow spaces for surplus rubber and 21 a wedging space for a tool to force the mold halves apart afterthe cure and 23 shows an air trap vent.

The operation of my tire will be evident to those skilled in the pertinent art: The amount of flexing desired in the tire tread portion can be regulated by the dimensions of the hoop fillers I6 and by the compounds and initial tensions used for the spokes [0.

The lateral strength of the tire can be regulated by altering the thickness and/or the angle of the cross ribs l 2 of the spokes.

It is most important for the easiest riding to prevent any load passing upwardly from the road to the axle through compression of one or more spokes and my device for preventing that, in the present tire, is the space Ii or II which is provided by means of shape and proportions given the molding pin 24. The space II also greatly facilitates assembly of the spoke sockets onto the button heads 6 of the spokes i0. By using soap-water over the ends of pin 4 the assembly of the spokes to the wheel rim by hooking their inner ends over the attachment ends can also be aided. Instead of a valve for inflating the spacing tube l8, gas capsules can be used as is practice in making rubber balls. Lightness and easy displacement vertically for the tread is accomplished by having a comparatively large space between the hickory hoops is as shown in Fig. 2,

but almost this amount of open space can be produced by using 'larger' metal spacing pieces such as indicated in small size but not shown in Figs. 7 and 8, at IS. The thickness desired as minimum rubber over the wood fillers ii at the tread contour in cross-section is had in this type tire for the first time and not only does this add to the tire's appearance, but it enables a motorcycle to bank readily. The laterally protruding bead, Fig. 2, on I5 adjacent I is continuous and protects the spokes from contacts.

Tomold my unitary spoke and tread tire the compound to be cured is placed in appropriately sized strips in the preheated mold and the portion on the left cavity 22b as seen in Fig. 12 is packed with the filler iii in place (see Fig. '7); then the metal spacers formed to produce the cavities IS in the tire or else the tube i8 are placed in position: The next step is to load the spoke plates 23 and insert the tapered ends of these plates pressed together into the openings thereof in 22b, see Figs. 9 and 11: Then pack the upper half 22a of the mold with its filler I8 and the compound and lower over 22b with registering pins 25 to guide until the upper tapers Pressure and heat may no be applied gradually and it will be noticed that because of the tapered form of the back portions of the molding plates 23 and. their corresponding apertures in the molds tire, a wheel rim to carry the wheel loads to the said tread through the upper half of the said spokes in tension and means located in each spoke to attach same to the said rim and to prevent any substantial load from passing through compression of 8. spoke from the said rim to the rim carrying transversely disposed spoke attachments having expanded ends and slotted openings molded into the inner ends of the said spokes whereby when the same are assembled onto the said attachments a substantial movement of the said spokes can take place on the said attachments before any compression load can be transmitted through the said spokes.

5. A vehicle wheel rim and tire combination including elastic spokes cured to a rubber tread envelope and assembled to the said rim with iniitial tension in each spoke and a connection betwene the said rim and each spoke adapted to prevent compression loads passing through any of the said spokes.

6. A tire tread portion for a vehicle tire including multiple flllers bonded to and within a tread envelope and separated from each other by an air space.

7. A combination according to claim 6 and an inflated tube located in the said air space,

8. In combination with a wheel rim, a tire including elastic spokes under initial tension and a flexible tread hoop, transversely extending attachments located .on and forming part oi the said rim, sockets molded into the said spokes and the said sockets adapted to fit over the said attachments, and open spaces in the said spokes and being continuations of the said sockets whereby upon relaxation oi! the said tension a spoke so relaxed will not transmit a load in compression from the said rim to the said hoop.

9. In an elastic spoke tire having an arcuate ground contacting portion with stiflening hoops embedded therein, each of said stiilening hoops being of substantially triangular cross-section and I having an arcuate surface substantially parallel of 23 enter their respective chambers in 22a.

to the ground contacting portion. I

JAMES V. MARTIN. 

